Getting into island spirit at Aloha Festival, Nihonmachi Street Fair

Shared across all Pacific island communities, the sentiment of the Hawaiian word aloha goes beyond its use in greetings and farewells. Those five letters encompass an island state-of-mind that holds its own positive energy — and to many, that spirit is also a way of life. Hoping to spread that spirit are organizers of the 17th annual San Francisco Bay Area Aloha Festival and the Ho‘olaule‘a Stage at the 39th annual Nihonmachi Street Fair, both taking place Saturday and Sunday with free admission.

The Aloha Festival, which the Pacific Islanders’ Cultural Association relocated to the San Mateo County Event Center after years at the San Francisco Presidio, will showcase Polynesian culture through music and dance, arts, crafts (over 100 vendors) and of course delicious “local kine grinds”: kalua pork, lomi salmon, malasadas (Portuguese doughnuts), teriyaki chicken and much more. There will also be an ‘ohana (family) area with several games, arts, crafts and prizes for the kids. In addition to story-telling and ‘ukulele instruction in the education tent, Aloha Festival Co-Chairman Julian Avilla will exhibit his restored antique 1950 Koa outrigger canoe, shipped to the mainland from the island of Hawai‘i. The canoe, which will also be for sale, was first on display in 1998 at Macy’s annual flower show in San Francisco.

“We are truly excited to bring the festival to San Mateo County and bring with us the spirit of aloha to the community,” said PICA volunteer coordinator Jenn Mino‘aka Mendoza in a recent phone interview. She began volunteering for the organization back in 1997, just two years after PICA formed, and so has had the opportunity to watch the festival flourish. “Our volunteers are the heartbeat of our organization and the reason this festival is what it is today,” she added.

The two-day entertainment lineup includes music and performances by some of the best groups from the Bay Area and Hawai‘i, including Hawaiian musician Eddie Tanaka, whose album “Mystical Moloka‘i” was nominated for the Island Album of the Year at the Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards (the Hawaiian equivalent of a Grammy); local celebrities and Bay Area natives Mango Kingz, who’ll performing their new single “You Got Me,” released on June 15 and now No. 1 on Hawai‘i radio stations (see video below); and slack key guitarist Patrick Landeza, who was also nominated for a “Hōkū” and recently released the CD “Kama‘alua.” (Note: If you can’t catch his performance at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at the Aloha Festival, you can see him in concert on Sunday at Yoshi’s in Oakland.) Other favorites include Aloha Festival veterans Ho‘omana and The Royal Hawaiian ‘Ukulele Band, and award- winning Tahitian groups Da Island Way and Nemenzo. Click here for a complete listing of the entertainment lineup.

Meanwhile, 20 miles away, Ho‘olaule‘a Stage Manager Will Chu will be bringing many Polynesian elements — including the Mango Kingz and other Hawaiian music and dance — to the Nihonmachi Street Fair in San Francisco’s Japantown. The fair was set up to provide opportunities to Japanese youth and honor the community’s cultural heritage, of which Hawai‘i is no doubt a significant piece. “Hawaiian culture and the spirit of aloha bring something special to Japantown,” said Chu in a recent phone interview. “Japan and Hawai‘i are connected in many ways.”

This connection is evident by the immersion of Hawaiian businesses into the area, such as Aloha Warehouse and the recently opened Pa‘ina restaurant and Ke ‘Olu Makani ‘O Mauna Loa, a hula hālau under the direction of kumu Meleana Manuel from Volcano, Hawai‘i, whose dancers will also be performing. Click here for a complete schedule of the performances.

Wherever you are in the Bay Area this weekend, islanders and islanders-at-heart, come indulge, enjoy and spread the aloha.